9 Delicious Ways to Enjoy a Loaf of Challah

Challah is a bread that’s steeped in tradition, holding a symbolic place at Jewish Sabbath meals and in the Rosh Hashanah spread. But beyond its ritual significance, challah has a certain universal appeal, with a fluffy texture and eggy richness that can be exquisite even in decidedly non-kosher dishes. It’s ideal for sweets like french toast and bread pudding, and can also add an extra layer of decadence to savory sandwiches and bready casseroles.

You could easily keep a loaf of challah your drawer and find ways to eat it with every meal (and dessert, too). So ditch the squishy supermarket slices and make challah your soft-as-a-pillow bread of choice with one of these nine recipes.

1. Challah

CHOW

Making any of the following recipes assumes you have a loaf to start off with. Just in case you don’t have one handy, our challah recipe will set you on the right track. Get our Challah recipe.

2. Challah French Toast with Strawberries

Gently crisped and caramelized on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, french toast is simply better with a bread like challah. Pair it up with some fruit, which will help perk up all of that eggy flavor. Get our Challah French Toast with Strawberries recipe.

3. Roasted Peach and Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding

CHOW

If you’ve got a loaf that’s starting to turn stale, turn it into bread pudding, Only an armful of cream, eggs, and butter could hide those rough edges and turn them into something that’s incredibly luxurious and dreamy. Get our Roasted Peach and Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding recipe.

4. Egg in a Hole

Cup of J0

While you could use almost any bread to make toads in the hole, eggs in a basket, or whatever you like to call a hollowed out slice, challah is especially suited for the task because of its eggy-bread-on-egg action. Get the recipe here.

5. Make-Ahead Ham & Cheese Breakfast Casserole

The Kitchn

Challah could be your best friend when looking to feed brunch to a crowd. Just let it soak overnight with some pancetta, onions, and cheese, then pop it in the oven the next morning for a stove-less recipe that makes more than enough to go around. Get the recipe here.

6. Summer Berry Pudding

Bon Appetit

Treat challah like a sponge and you’ll be vastly rewarded. It’s a pro at soaking up sweet fruit juices, like in this cheerful berry-laden summer pudding. Get the recipe here.

7. Nutella, Brie, and Bacon Grilled Cheese

Treats and Eats

The hint of sweetness in challah makes it perfect for experimenting with salty-sweet combos. This marriage of chocolate, cheese, and bacon is just about the most lavish thing that could happen between two slices. Get the recipe here.

8. Beet, Avocado, and Mixed Bean Challah Toasts

The Food Gays

Challah’s richness can also help you add a bit of decadence to an otherwise spartan meal. Here, the bread helps turn what is essentially a salad into a luxuriant lunchtime treat. Get the recipe here.

9. Fried Chicken Sandwich

Spoon Fork Bacon

You can also use challah to go full-out over the top, as is the case with this no-holds barred fried chicken sandwich. Get the recipe here.

Miki Kawasaki is a New York City–based food writer and graduate of Boston University's program in Gastronomy. Few things excite her more than a well-crafted sandwich or expertly spiced curry. If you ever run into her at a dinner party, make sure to hit her up for a few pieces of oddball culinary trivia.